CVE-2022-30751 in Smart Phone
Summary
by MITRE • 07/12/2022
Improper access control vulnerability in sendDHCPACKBroadcast function of SemWifiApClient prior to SMR Jul-2022 Release 1 allows attacker to access wifi ap client mac address that connected by using WIFI_AP_STA_DHCPACK_EVENT action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2022
This vulnerability resides in the SemWifiApClient component of a wireless access point system, specifically affecting versions prior to the SMR Jul-2022 Release 1. The issue manifests as an improper access control flaw within the sendDHCPACKBroadcast function, which is designed to handle DHCP acknowledgment broadcasts in wireless network environments. The vulnerability stems from insufficient authorization checks when processing WIFI_AP_STA_DHCPACK_EVENT actions, allowing unauthorized parties to extract MAC addresses of devices connected to the wireless access point. This represents a classic privilege escalation scenario where sensitive network information is exposed without proper authentication mechanisms.
The technical flaw operates through the DHCP acknowledgment broadcast mechanism that occurs when wireless clients establish connections to access points. When a client successfully negotiates a DHCP lease, the system generates a WIFI_AP_STA_DHCPACK_EVENT that should normally be restricted to authorized administrative or monitoring processes. However, the sendDHCPACKBroadcast function fails to validate the source or legitimacy of requests accessing this event data, creating an information disclosure pathway. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because MAC addresses serve as critical identifiers in network reconnaissance and can be used to track device movement, establish device profiles, and potentially facilitate further attacks. This flaw aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and demonstrates how insufficient authorization checks in network protocol handlers can compromise system security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as MAC address exposure can enable various attack vectors within wireless network environments. An attacker with access to this information could perform device fingerprinting, conduct location tracking of connected devices, or use the MAC addresses in social engineering campaigns targeting specific network users. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where wireless access points manage numerous client connections, as it could provide attackers with comprehensive visibility into network topology and user device presence. This type of information leakage can facilitate advanced persistent threat campaigns where attackers use gathered network intelligence to plan more sophisticated attacks, including man-in-the-middle attacks or targeted credential harvesting. The vulnerability also violates fundamental security principles outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1046 Network Service Scanning and T1590 Infrastructure Preparation, as it enables reconnaissance activities that can be leveraged for broader attack surface expansion.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper access control mechanisms within the sendDHCPACKBroadcast function and ensuring that all network event handlers enforce strict authentication and authorization checks. Organizations should immediately update to SMR Jul-2022 Release 1 or later versions where this vulnerability has been patched. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring of DHCP-related events to detect anomalous access patterns. The fix typically involves adding validation checks to ensure that only authorized processes can access the WIFI_AP_STA_DHCPACK_EVENT data, implementing role-based access controls, and logging all access attempts to sensitive network information. Security teams should also consider network segmentation strategies to limit the scope of potential exploitation and deploy intrusion detection systems capable of identifying unusual DHCP event access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.